DOL’s Fiduciary Regulation – One Step Closer to Final
The Department of Labor’s (DOL) controversial fiduciary regulation, which will subject a multitude of new financial market participants to strict fiduciary requirements under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), is one step closer to being finalized. On January 28, 2016, the DOL delivered the final regulation to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for its review, the last stop on a long journey before the final regulation is released and published in the Federal Register. While the OMB typically has up to 90 days to complete its review, we believe the final regulation will be published in late March or early April.[1]
The regulation is expected to have material consequences for many types of financial market participants, including:
- Investment managers
- Broker-dealers
- Banks and trust companies
- Fund complexes
- Insurance companies
- Corporate 401(k) plans
- Corporate pension plans
- 401(k) recordkeepers
- Consultants
These and other financial market participants affected should review their activities with respect to ERISA and individual retirement account clients, including both investment funds that are deemed to hold ERISA plan assets and non-plan asset funds with retirement investors, in order to analyze the regulation’s implications.[2] Many firms will need to modify their sales practices and update their policies and procedures. Corporate retirement plans should assess the regulation’s impact on their service providers.
Client Events
Once the regulation is final, K&L Gates will host and participate in several events to educate clients on the new rules and publish a detailed client alert summarizing the final rule. The events will be designed to assist clients with the many practical compliance issues that will need to be addressed.
Background
The DOL and the Obama administration have put considerable effort into trying to finalize the regulation before a new administration takes office. The following is a recap of the regulation’s long journey:
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DOL proposed a regulation defining who is a “fiduciary” of a plan under ERISA as a result of providing investment advice |
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DOL held a public hearing on the proposal |
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DOL announced it would withdraw the proposal and propose a new rule |
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The White House issued a report entitled, “The Effects of Conflicted Investment Advice on Retirement Savings” |
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DOL re-proposed the regulation and withdrew the 2010 proposal |
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Comment period closed after DOL received thousands of comment letters |
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DOL held a four-day public hearing on the proposal |
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DOL reopened the comment period and received hundred of additional comments |
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OMB received the regulation for its review |
Notes:
[1] The rule’s many opponents may still pursue measures in an effort to stop the rule from becoming effective (e.g., a legal challenge or legislative review). On February 2, 2016, the House Education and Workforce Committee approved two bills that would, if enacted, require Congress to approve the regulation before it goes into effect.
Please contact any member of the ERISA Fiduciary Group listed below if you want to discuss these matters.
This publication/newsletter is for informational purposes and does not contain or convey legal advice. The information herein should not be used or relied upon in regard to any particular facts or circumstances without first consulting a lawyer. Any views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the law firm's clients.
